Moore signs to play baseball at Tallahassee Community College
Mar. 9—MOULTRIE — When Brandon Brock took over the Colquitt County baseball team in 2022, he learned that Mason Moore had been called up to the varsity as a freshman the year before.
It did not take Brock long to learn why.
"I found out he was a vital part of our program," Brock said on Friday at the Colquitt County High cafeteria where the Packers' senior pitcher/outfielder signed to continue his baseball career at Tallahassee Community College.
"And he has become the epitome of what baseball is supposed to be here."
Both Brock and assistant Tyler Hembree have watched Moore mature and improve over the last three years as a Packer.
"In the last year, you could tell he was ready for the next level," Brock said. "In the last 12 months, he has turned into a man."
Hembree said, "It's been fun to watch him from the bright-eyed freshman who we brought up and put in some tight spots to the guy we count on today.
"I'm glad to have watched all his effort come to fruition."
Moore credits his father Michael with helping him develop his talents.
"He wanted me to be successful and helped me as much as he could," Moore said.
Next to his father, Moore said Hembree also has had a big impact on him.
"Coach Hembree has always pushed me, always kept my confidence up," he said.
Moore was named to the Georgia Dugout Club's preseason All-State second team before his junior year after having been a first-team All-Region 1-7A selection in 2022.
Moore hit .366 with nine doubles, two triples and a homer and drove in 26 runs as a 10th-grader.
The left-hander also was solid on the mound, turning in a 3.23 ERA.
Last year, Moore was named to all-region first team as a pitcher and second team as an outfielder.
He went 5-4 with a 4.22 ERA and threw a no-hitter in a region victory over Valdosta.
He also hit .309.
In addition to taking a more active leadership role, Moore has been a big part of the Packers offense this season, hitting .361 with a double, four triples and two home runs.
Three of those triples came in the Packers 6-4 victory over Cairo on Feb. 21, at Ike Aultman Field at Jerry Croft Stadium.
When Moore was a youngster he took hitting lessons from Corry Figueroa, who is an assistant coach at Tallahassee Community College.
Figueroa later saw Moore perform in a travel ball tournament, asked him to attend an invitation-only camp in Tallahassee and soon called and offered him an opportunity to play for the Eagles.
Brock said that TCC is noted for its baseball program and that "it's as elite a junior college as you can go to.
"And Florida JUCO baseball is as good as it gets."
The 8-6 Packers still have the region portion of their schedule ahead of them including the opener at Camden County on Tuesday.
Colquitt will be back at Packer Park for the doubleheader with the Wildcats beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15.
"I'm anxious to see what happens (in the region)," Moore said. "I think we should be first or second."
